Results 21-40 of 10,085 for speaker:Mary Butler

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (28 Apr 2016)

Mary Butler: I do not think so. We saw the plans in the last week of May 2015. These eight to ten houses are being built on a local authority site where there are already 20 houses. The land is there. There are no objections. It is has now been 11 months. The council approved the project but not a sod has been turned. I am not a builder, but I would have thought that if the money is there and 11...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (28 Apr 2016)

Mary Butler: I thank the Minister. Did he get those five points?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Housing Agency (28 Apr 2016)

Mary Butler: I thank the agency for a very informative presentation. My question concerns the 200,000 homes that lie vacant throughout the country. Has the Housing Agency taken into account, for example, the overhead accommodation above shops that is under-utilised or perhaps derelict and without proper lighting and heating? Were such areas included in the figure of 200,000? Does the Housing Agency...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Housing Agency (28 Apr 2016)

Mary Butler: In rural areas in particular, but in the cities as well, there are many two- and three-storey buildings where only the bottom section is being used and the upper sections are not. Would this not be a partial solution to the current problem?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Construction Industry Federation (3 May 2016)

Mary Butler: My line of questioning is similar to that of the last two speakers. Would the witnesses accept that there is an over-reliance on local authorities to provide social housing? As Deputy Byrne said, Mr. Eugene Cummins and the County and City Management Association came before the committee last week. They stated that local authorities are not developers and even if they had adequate resources...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Construction Industry Federation (3 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I heard on the radio on Friday that Noel Frisby Construction was advertising those houses.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (3 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I refer to the society's proposals to improve supply and sustainability. Will the witnesses expand on the reference to streamlining the planning process and the alternative social housing delivery model?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (3 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I wish to comment on the HAP scheme from the perspective of the Waterford constituency. The highest amount available in rent supplement in Waterford is €525. The dogs in the street know that it is not possible to get a house any place in Waterford city or county for €525. A person might get a place for €650 or for an amount heading towards €700. Prices are at...

Crime: Statements (5 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I also welcome this opportunity to speak about the major issue of crime. Crime is a major issue that comes up constantly, as I meet people on a regular basis. It does not just involve the volume of recorded offences but the number of offences that go unrecorded and unreported. The fear of crime is very high in communities, particularly in more rural communities. There is a real sense that...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Finance (5 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I thank the Minister for his report and I thank him and his officials for attending. Many of the submissions we have already received from various organisations whose representatives have been before us, especially those of the Construction Industry Federation, have stated that the VAT rate of 13.5% should be reduced in some instances to 9% - and perhaps even to 0% - to try to stimulate...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Finance (5 May 2016)

Mary Butler: It was on the Living City initiative. The Minister said the take-up was not great and I wonder if there is any way to revamp it.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Finance (5 May 2016)

Mary Butler: Would many of these houses also be subject to preservation orders?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Finance (5 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I thank the Minister. My third question is on the role of city and county councils. Does the Minister feel they have a greater role to play in providing social and affordable housing?

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (6 May 2016)

Mary Butler: We are not sniping.

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Professor P. J. Drudy, Trinity College Dublin (10 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I thank Professor Drudy for his presentation and thoughts. I have two brief questions. We have had quite a lot of different groups and organisations coming into us and many of them are making different proposals and suggestions and we are trying to take them all on board and to see what would work and what would not. Three of the groups from the construction side that came before the...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Mercy Law Resource Centre (10 May 2016)

Mary Butler: I thank Ms Regan. I had not heard of Mercy Law until I received the invitation to Buswells Hotel. I was very impressed and did some research on it. I compliment the witnesses on the work they do. It is not something we have access to in the country. They are doing fantastic work. We are trying to come up with ideas to put forward some solutions quickly. Would it make any difference in...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Mercy Law Resource Centre (10 May 2016)

Mary Butler: Could Ms Regan give us a little more detail on that? I was very surprised to hear that, because free legal aid is there for anyone. It was reported in the media recently. Has any other group or organisation tried to have the Constitution changed in this regard? Is Mercy Law the first group ever to try to do this? If people tried before were they unsuccessful?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: Mercy Law Resource Centre (10 May 2016)

Mary Butler: Did anybody else ever try to bring forward this legislation?

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: National Asset Management Agency (12 May 2016)

Mary Butler: As Deputy Wallace said, we must look forward. That is the purpose of this committee. We are in crisis mode and the objective of this committee is to look at solutions and to see how we can move on from here. My question relates to the delivery of 20,000 residential units by the end of 2020 subject to commercial viability. My problem is that 93% of the residential units will be delivered...

Committee on Housing and Homelessness: National Asset Management Agency (12 May 2016)

Mary Butler: No.